Side Character Who Became the Pseudo-Protagonist

Chapter 18: Asgard’s Triad

I never realized how many clubs there were, and how many of them were downright...normal, at the same time.

Have they always been inside the game? Or was this just a perk of being in the world itself?

Regardless, I managed to spot a couple that caught my eye as I followed the Disciplinary Committee Leader toward wherever she was taking me.

There was a Swordsmanship Society, but it was about pure swordsmanship meant for competing in tournaments.

Or even something like the Cooking Club, which...let’s just say I fail to see the point of in a school that’s supposed to be training the next generation in protecting humanity.

Though my eyes narrowed when I saw one just on the far side of the field. They were tucked away, with only a few people visiting, but it was probably one of my biggest leads in this mystery.

The Public Relations Council.

I wanted to stop and ask them about the seminar immediately, but Riley Locke had stopped at the entrance of a nearby building, already giving me weird stares.

So I decided to move along and hope whatever this meeting was wouldn’t take too much time.

But it was my hopeful thinking, as a few minutes later, I was standing in a room with the other two of Asgard’s Triad:

Grant Nidavel, current heir of House Nidavel and Manager of Extracurricular Activities.

He was a hulking giant of a man that would make everyone piss their pants with just one scowl. With slick-back hair neatly combed and a dead serious expression on his face, he was someone I wouldn’t mess with.

And Claire Vanaris, current heir of House Vanaris, one of the top three most influential Houses from the Nines. She was also the Student Council President and held the record for furthest Projection result known in recent history.

Her long flowing hair reaching all the way to the floor as she stared at me with a mischievous grin, like a predator looking at its prey.

Needless to say, these were some big shots. And even if I wanted to be here in the first place, well...I was having second thoughts.

"Pfft—ahahaha! Look at him, even though he’s a Midgard, he’s frozen stiff!"

Riley suddenly burst out laughing. But her doing so somewhat alleviated the weird mood in the room.

"Give him a break, Riley," Grant sighed softly. "Not everyone is like Nora. Even she was considered abnormal for all intents and purposes."

"Ahem..."

I coughed into my hand, hoping for all of this to be over already. "Why have I been called here? Last time I checked, I was just admitted..."

"Oh, don’t worry, you’re not in trouble or anything. We just have a proposal for you," Claire finally spoke out, her tone unexpectedly soft.

A proposal? I already don’t like the sound of this.

"Look, if you’re going to ask me to join any one of your committees, then I really can’t. I already have too much on my plate and—"

"Huh? He really isn’t like Nora at all?"

A voice suddenly came from behind me. Then suddenly, hostile intent came from the same direction.

I barely had time to react, jumping back half a step, only to see Grant there, standing with his arms crossed.

’What...?! When did he get behind me?’

His face looked calm but his intent was something else. Even if he was standing still, every time his body even shifted slightly, it would cause me to think he was going to attack.

’Is he really gonna beat me up for saying no?!’

That was when I felt a small shift in the air, and when I turned, Grant was already throwing a right hook toward my face.

’Shit—!’

I just barely managed to dodge the attack in time before the giant moved in for more. He unleashed a barrage of strikes so fast that it took all of my concentration to just barely avoid getting my bones snapped in two.

’Damn it, he’s not even giving me time to reason!’

Fine, if its a fight he wants, then don’t blame me for going all-out. He started it first.

But when I managed to get some distance and reached into my pocket, I realized that my Spell Driver wasn’t there, and I still didn’t have a new one yet.

Grant, however, didn’t give me any time to mourn for my weapon, closing the gap faster than his size should’ve allowed.

I raised both arms just in time to block his jab, but even just a light impact caused me to slide backward. And before I could recover, another blow was aimed at my chest.

Though this time, it looked like he slowed down a bit, so I used the opportunity to twist past the attack and deliver a straight punch of my own.

But Grant had been waiting for the moment, catching my wrist like he had already known where I was aiming.

’Crap...’

"UWAAAH—!"

Twisting around, the giant had thrown me across the room like a ragdoll, my back slamming against the wall and creating a gigantic crater.

"Gghhk—!"

My entire body was numb and I could barely move my limbs.

Damn it, I can’t beat him in hand-to-hand combat. No, forget beating him, I can’t even land a hit on him.

My breathing was already a mess, but Grant looked perfectly calm, like this was just a light exercise for him before the real thing.

"He’s lasting longer than I thought?" Riley blew a bubble with her gum before it popped.

But once my attention was over there, I noticed something else. Claire, who had been watching quietly this entire time...winked at me.

Then, with a soft click, placed something on the table in front of her:

A Gun-type Spell Driver.

What the...was she helping me? Was she giving me permission? Shit, or maybe this is part of the setup...

No, there’s no time to think about it now. It’s the only way I won’t be turned into a pancake from one more of his punches.

I stared at Grant, who didn’t seem to notice that Claire had done such a thing behind him, and was already approaching me slowly.

"Tch...now or never."

I rushed up to one of the nearby tables, kicking it with all my force and sending it flying at the Manager.

Grant didn’t even bother dodging it, raising both hands to block. The table collided against him, breaking apart into a storm of splinters and throwing up dust all around the room.

But when everything cleared—

Click!

[Spell Sequence Initializing...]

I aimed the barrel straight at his back.

"Don’t make any sudden movements and tell me what’s going on."

"Now."